Split multi-well plate and methods

Abstract

The invention provides exemplary testing devices, systems, and methods for evaluating the permeation of various chemicals through different types of cells. In one exemplary embodiment, a testing device is provided which comprises a plate defining at least one well having an open top end. At least one membrane is insertable into the well in a generally vertical orientation to divide the well into separate chambers. The membrane is removable from the well to allow the cells to be grown on the membrane before insertion into the well.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A testing device comprising: a plate defining a plurality of wells;   an array of membranes which are insertable into the wells in a generally vertical orientation, whereby cells may be grown onto the membranes prior to insertion into the wells; and   a divider to which the membranes are operably attached, the divider being insertable into the wells to hold the membranes in a generally vertical orientation within the wells.   
     
     
       2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the membranes are insertable into an open top end of the wells in a generally vertical orientation, and wherein the cells comprise mammalian-based cells. 
     
     
       3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the divider encompasses a periphery of the membranes. 
     
     
       4. A device as in claim 3, wherein the divider forms a raised edge around the periphery of the membranes to constrain cell growth to the membranes. 
     
     
       5. A device as in claim 1, wherein each well includes at least one generally vertically oriented slot into which the divider is received. 
     
     
       6. A device as in claim 1, wherein the divider comprises a plurality of teeth to which the membranes are operably attached and a bridge interconnecting the teeth, wherein the teeth are insertable into the array of wells to place a separate membrane into each well. 
     
     
       7. A device as in claim 1, wherein the divider comprises an elongate member to which the membranes are operably attached, wherein the plate includes an elongate slot extending between the array of wells, and wherein the elongate member is insertable into the slot to place the membranes into the wells. 
     
     
       8. A device as in claim 1, wherein the array is a two-dimensional array, with the wells being arranged in rows and columns, and further comprising a plurality of row dividers, each having a plurality of membranes operably attached thereto for insertion into each row of wells. 
     
     
       9. A device as in claim 1, wherein the membranes are constructed from the group of materials consisting of polytetrafluroethylene, polyethylene, PET and polycarbonate. 
     
     
       10. A method for performing assays, the method comprising: providing a divider having a plurality of membranes;   inserting the divider into a plurality of wells in a generally vertical orientation so that each well includes one of the membranes to divide each well into a donor chamber and a receptor chamber;   growing cells onto the membranes; and   introducing at least one substance into each donor chamber and allowing at least some of the substance to diffuse through the membranes and into the receptor chambers; and   evaluating a characteristic of the substance that is within each donor chamber and each receptor chamber.   
     
     
       11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the evaluated characteristic comprises the concentration of the substance. 
     
     
       12. A method as in claim 10, wherein the evaluated characteristic comprises determining the permeation rate of the substance across each membrane. 
     
     
       13. A method as in claim 12, further comprising determining the permeation rate of the substance through the cells on the membranes based at least in part on the concentration of the substance within the donor chamber and the receptor chamber over time. 
     
     
       14. A method as in claim 10, wherein the substance comprises a chemical, and further comprising introducing a buffer solution into the chambers prior to placing the chemical into the donor chambers. 
     
     
       15. A method as in claim 10, further comprising seeding the cells onto the membranes while the membranes are in a generally horizontal orientation, and placing the membrane into the well in a generally vertical orientation. 
     
     
       16. A method as in claim 15, further comprising growing the cells onto the membranes prior to placement into the wells. 
     
     
       17. A method as in claim 15, further comprising growing the cells onto the membranes after placement into the wells. 
     
     
       18. A method as in claim 15, further comprising constraining the growth of the cells onto the membranes. 
     
     
       19. A method as in claim 10, wherein each well includes at least one generally vertically oriented slot, and further comprising sliding the divider through the slots when inserting the divider into the wells. 
     
     
       20. A method as in claim 10, wherein the divider comprises a plurality of teeth to which the membranes are operably attached and a bridge interconnecting the teeth, and further comprising inserting the teeth into an array of the wells to place a separate membrane into each well. 
     
     
       21. A method as in claim 10, wherein the divider comprises an elongate member to which the membranes are operably attached, wherein a plate having the wells includes an elongate slot extending between an array of the wells, and further comprising inserting the elongate member into the slot to place the membranes into the wells. 
     
     
       22. A method as in claim 10, wherein the wells are arranged in a two-dimensional array, with the wells being arranged in rows and columns, further comprising a plurality of row dividers, each having a plurality of membranes operably attached thereto, and further comprising inserting one divider into each row of wells. 
     
     
       23. A testing device comprising: a plate defining at least one well; and   at least one membrane which is insertable into the well;   a divider to which the membrane is operably attached, the divider being insertable into the well to hold the membrane in a generally vertical orientation within the well; and   wherein the well includes at least one generally vertically oriented slot into which the divider is received.